Ciclo Orgânico

Reinventing the tricycle is just one innovation Lucas Chiabi has realised to turn his idea for circular-economy recycling solution in the middle of Rio de Janeiro into reality.

Lucas, founder of Ciclo Orgânico, won Merit place in the 2017 Shell LiveWIRE Top Ten Innovators competition, securing US $5,000 prize money.

Ciclo Orgânico is a subscription service business which collects organic waste and transforms it into high quality soil, providing a recycling solution for city residents. Using specially adapted tricycles, the business collects food waste from households and businesses in Rio, transporting them to local composting sites where the waste is transformed into rich soils. Since its launch in November 2015, Ciclo Orgânico has diverted over 210 tonnes of food waste from being dumped in landfill sites.

In 2018, Ciclo Orgânico intends to captilise on the momentum of their success, growing their team and expanding into new neighbourhoods, increasing the recycling capacity of each client by 50% with larger collection buckets and investing in a larger composting space. Their target for recycled waste is set at 1200 tons.

On his win, Lucas commented, “Thank you all for the support! Having people who believe in us and the work we do is a unexpected and good feeling! Thank you friends, customers, collaborators, team and the guys from Iniciativa Jovem! Together we go far!”